1-62 ADA Battalion Commander

Warhawk 6

LTC Jeff A. McDonald

Lieutenant Colonel McDonald is a native of Waterford, Michigan. He began his military career as an enlisted member of the Field Artillery in 1983 until 1986 upon which time he had a break in service and worked in construction for almost five years, until the first Gulf War started. He then re-enlisted during Operation Desert Shield as a Patriot Missile Operator and Mechanic. In 1994 Lieutenant Colonel McDonald entered the Army’s Green to Gold program and attended the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Eastern Michigan University where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 1996 and a Regular Army Commission. His military education includes the Air Defense Artillery Officer’s Basic Course (OBC), Airborne School, Field Artillery Captain’s Career Course, CAS3, and the Command and General’s Staff Intermediate Leaders Education Course (CGSC).

Upon completion of Air Defense Artillery OBC in December of 1996, he attended Airborne school and then served as a Patriot Platoon Leader, Reduced Readiness Battery Commander in Kuwait, Battery Executive Officer, and Deputy Operations Officer for Training and Evaluation at 6-52 Air Defense Artillery, 69th Brigade, Ansbach, Germany. In July 2000 he attended the Field Artillery Captain’s Career Course. Upon Completion of CAS3 in February of 2001, was assigned to the 31st Air Defense Artillery, Brigade where he served as a Fire Direction Officer and Battle Captain prior to assuming command of Echo Battery, 1-1 ADA in May 2002. While in command he deployed his battery to Kuwait with the 4th Infantry Division in support of “Operation Iraqi Freedom.”

Upon completion of battery command Lieutenant Colonel McDonald was selected as an Army intern and relocated to Washington, D.C. where he attended Georgetown University and earned a Master of Policy Management. Lieutenant Colonel McDonald was then assigned as a Joint Chiefs of Staff and Office of the Secretary of Defense (JCS/OSD) Intern (a three year program). His first assignment in the Pentagon was to the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Strategy, as a policy strategist. His final year as a member of the Army intern program was spent on the Head Quarters Department of the Army G-8 Staff.

After completing ILE at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, Lieutenant Colonel McDonald was assigned as the Battalion Operations officer of 1-7, Air Defense Artillery, (Patriot) Battalion located at Fort Bragg, North Carolina and completed a Master degree in Education from Old Dominion University. Also, while assigned to the battalion he deployed to United Arab Emirates (UAE) in support of “Operation Enduring Freedom.” Upon redeployment he continued in the battalion as the Executive Officer. Lieutenant Colonel McDonald was then selected to serve as a Professor of Military Science (PMS) and Chairperson for the Military Science Department at Michigan State University.

Lieutenant Colonel McDonald’s awards and decorations include two Bronze Stars, Meritorious Service Medal (3OLC), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), Air Force Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal (4OLC), Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal (w/bronze star), Korean Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Medal, Overseas Service Medal and Kuwaiti Liberation Medal.

Lieutenant Colonel McDonald is currently serving as the Battalion Commander of 1-62 ADA Battalion. Lieutenant Colonel McDonald
is married and they have two children.